The meningitis vaccine is available at:
The Allegheny County Health Department
Phone: 412-578-8060
3441 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA. 15213
Fee:
| Menomune: |
$101.00* |
| Menactra: |
$99.00* |
Directions to County Health Office
At the main entrance to the college, make a left turn onto University Blvd. Follow road to fourth light. Make a left onto Airport Pkwy. Merge onto PA-60 S. Road turns into US-30 E. Follow through tunnels, and across bridge. Take Forbes Ave. exit toward Oakland. Stay straight to go onto Forbes Ave. County health office will be on the left, next to Arby's. Across the street from CVS Pharmacy.
*Fees subject to change |
Ohio Valley General Hospital
Barb Steen
Infection Control located on 2nd floor
Phone: 412-777-6514
25 Heckel Road, McKees Rocks, PA. 15136
Fee: Menactra $100.00*
Appointment necessary. Monday through Friday 9AM-5PM, Saturday 9AM-1PM |
About Meningitis
College students are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, a potentially fatal bacterial infection commonly referred to as meningitis. In fact, freshmen living in residence halls are found to have a six-fold increased risk for the disease. The American College Health Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that college students learn more about meningitis and vaccination. At least 70% of all cases of meningococcal disease in college students are vaccine preventable.
The General Assembly of Pennsylvania recently passed legislation mandating the meningitis vaccine for college students living on-campus. Pennsylvania's legislation (Senate Bill 955) states that students residing on campus either have the vaccine or sign a waiver stating that the student has received and reviewed information provided by the school and has chosen not to be vaccinated.
- What is meningococcal meningitis? It is a potentially fatal bacterial disease that causes swelling of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal column. It can also lead to permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage, seizures, limb amputation , and even death.
- How is it spread? Meningococcal meningitis is spread through the air via respiratory secretion or close contact with an infected person. This can include coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items like utensils, cigarettes and drinking glasses.
- What are the symptoms? Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis often resemble the flu and can include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and confusion.
- Who is at risk? College students, particularly freshmen who live in residence halls, have been found to have an increased risk for Meningococcal meningitis. Other undergraduates should also consider vaccination to reduce this risk for the disease.
- Can meningitis be prevented? Yes. A safe and effective vaccine is available to protect against four of the most common strains of the disease. This vaccine provides protection for approximately three to five years. Adverse reactions to the meningitis vaccine are mild and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain in the injection site and rarely, a fever. As with any vaccine, vaccination against meningitis may not protect 100 percent of all susceptible individuals. It does not protect against viral meningitis.
To learn more about meningitis and the vaccine, visit Robert Morris University Student Health Services in Nicholson Center. You can also visit websites of Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo, and the American College Health Association, www.acha.org.
For More Information,
Contact:
Rosmarie Bruich, R.N.
Student Health Nurse
Student Health Services
bruich@rmu.edu
412-397-6221 phone
412-397-3236 fax
Nicholson Center 2nd